Top 5 reasons to spend Christmas is Kansas...

So obviously I am sooo... excited to go home for Christmas this year. I can't wait to see my family and do all the activities we have turned into family traditions. I know Kansas may not be your ideal Christmas location but this is why I'm especially excited to go home this year:

1. The Dokos' are there! YAY! (Sorry I don't have a picture of the whole family YET, but don't worry, I'll be posting tons after Christmas!)

2. Lots of good treats and hardy meals. My sister is an expert baker and Mitch and I plan on making a big pot of borscht for the fam, this along with all the other usual Christmas meals means I'll definitely be putting on a couple pounds. (These are actual cookies she made-I stole the pic off her blog, don't they look delicious!!!)




3. There are certain things you can only see in Kansas and I love going with my family. I love Crown Center and the Plaza during the holidays.

4. I've really missed my Mom these past couple months and I can't wait to just see her and laugh with her.
5. I have two nieces waiting for me. I won't see one until she's born in February but I still can't wait to see my sister's most adorable baby Amelia, and to see my sister-in-law Kimberly's cute little belly.

Drive safe?

In my opinion, if it's going to be cold it might as well snow so it at least looks pretty. But I'm still not a fan of the snow. I would rather have it be 75 degrees and sunny year round, but seeing that I live in Utah I know that's not going to happen.
What I hate most about the snow is driving in it. I'm not afraid of it. I would actually rather drive in snow then rain. What scares and frustrates me is everyone else on the road that is either too cautious in it and I get stuck behind them going 15 mph for 20 minutes (like I did this morning on my way to work) or those who have this crazy idea that they should drive 90 mph and fly by you, swerving, flicking snow all over your windshield temporarily blinding you. Can't we find a safe middle ground people?

Why did I go to college?

This is a question I've been asking myself lately. Not only did I spend 4 1/2 years trying hard to maintain a high GPA but I spent thousands of dollars, working hard each summer just to spend it all in a matter of days for just one more semester.

So most of you know I graduated in April with a B.A. in History. Maybe your thinking that's my problem: Who gets a degree in History? Well just so you know, I loved my major. Granted, it's not very useful and I probably could have learned everything from just reading books in my spare time, but nonetheless I really did absolutely love my major.
That's not the point though...well maybe it is.
Despite the fact that I enjoyed almost every minute of my university experience I still find myself wondering if it was all worth it. I mean honestly, right now I'm sitting at my desk at American Family Insurance*, answering phones, making cold calls, and well yeah, that's about it. Doing absolutely nothing with my college degree.
So in light of these depressing facts I've decided to do some research and remember all the reasons why I ever went to college.

Here goes:
-I was able to take a lot of interesting classes that I would have missed out on otherwise (ex: ceramics, Islam and the gospel, Jewish history, what is art, etc).
-A college education gives you choices (okay I just read that somewhere but it sounded good).
-A college education also gives you a good start in life by increasing your knowledge and skills.
-Education helps increase your understanding of the world and your community, as well as grasp abstract concepts and theories.
-The more education you get the more likely it is you will always have a job.
-Every bit of education you get after high school increases the chances you'll earn good pay.
-College provides opportunities for: Meeting new people, taking part in new activities to explore your interests, and....meet the man of my dreams (does that count).

Now I feel better :)
Don't worry- I've never really regretted getting my degree, even if I never end up using it directly.

*Just so you all know, American Family is a great company. Although my job is sometimes (most of the time) a bore, I still really enjoy the atmosphere, the agent I work for and recommend American Family to anyone looking for insurance.

Easy Listening...

For the past couple weeks Mitch and I have been listening to To Kill and Mockingbird.
For all of you who have yet to read this book it's fantastic. We finished it last night.
I read it a few years ago but Mitch hadn't had the pleasure so we decided to read it together.
Thanks to the Provo Public Library we were able to get the book on CD read by Sissy Spacek too. It was really fun to be able to just snuggle up on the couch and listen.
Now we're just waiting to watch the movie.
Thanks for your recommendation Melody! I agree that "Atticus Finch is one the greatest literary heroes." If only more of us would display the same kind of patience and wisdom this world would be a much better place.
Well now we're looking for a new book to start. Let me know if any of you have suggestions!

Countdown to Christmas...

Our tree is up! I even bought a couple Christmas candles so our apartment smells like a fresh Christmas tree (and apple cinnamon).
Mitch is so sweet and he lights the tree every day right before I get home from work. I think he knows it automatically puts me in a great mood.
We're not really stocked up on Christmas decorations yet but our apartment is small enough it doesn't take much to make it ready for the holidays. Thanks to Mitch's sweet mom we have cute wooden blocks to line our would be fireplace (but actually our window sill since we don't have a fire place yet). We liked them so much they've been up since Mitch's birthday on November 16th, seriously breaking the rule of "no Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving." Oh well, happy holidays!

BORSCHT ... [bawrsht]

–noun: any of various eastern European soups made with beets, cabbage, potatoes, or other vegetables and served hot or chilled, often with sour cream.
IT'S SO GOOD!
Mitch and I made it last week and it makes tons. He ate it a lot in Ukraine where he served his mission. It's a great cold weather soup so if your hungry for something warm and delicious I'd be happy to give you the recipe. Don't be scared of the beet either.

Tagged by my Sis...

My sister Natalie tagged me. Unfortunately you can't all see her blog but she really did. If you are tagged, you must copy and paste the questions post them on your blog and then tag 6 more people. Go to their blog and notify them that they have been tagged and tell them to go to your blog for details.

Someone gives you money and sends you into the grocery store to pick up 4 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments.. what is it?

1. Produce: red potatoes
2. Bakery: cinnamon raisin bagels
3. Meat: steak
4. Frozen: ice cream

Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?
1. warm cardigan
2. comfy pants (basically some sort of pj's or work-out pants)
3. v-neck shirt

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?
1. "American Family Insurance this is Emilie..."
2. "Yay, I'm home."
3. "Wil you bring me my chapstick?"
4. "I feel like something chocolate."
5. "Let's play battleship."

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?
1. Cuddle up to Mitch on the couch
2. Look at my and my friends blogs (kinda sad I know :o)
3. Get a piece of candy from the jar at work

Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Bake something sweet.
2. Read a book
3. Take a bath
4. Read the online news
5. Blog and email

We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. Dolphins
2. Monkeys
3. Giraffes
(exactly the same as my sister)

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?
1. The Office
2. Colbert Report
3. David Letterman
4. Oprah (she's always giving away free stuff)

You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. Mud Pie
2. Cookies & Cream
3. Heavenly Hash

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?
1. Burt's Bees pomegranate chapstick
2. Black wallet
3. Spearmint Orbit gum
4. AmFam keys
5. Tan daily planner

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let's pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. Artist
2. Interpreter
3. Clothing designer
4. yeah I don't really know, I kinda just want to be a mom.


If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say?
1. Save even more of your money, you'll be glad you did.
2. Spend more time with your family.
3. Keep drawing.
4. Don't sweat the small stuff.

I tag Lauren, Sondra, Kim N., Melody, Lindsey White & Wendy.

Battleship...

Lately one of my favorite things to do with Mitch is play Battleship. Our game doesn't make explosion noises like some of the new ones do but we still love it. Sometimes I feel like a little kid when I find little pieces of the game in the couch cushions. It's a perfect two player game for those evenings you just want to stay in the warmth of your home and drink hot chocolate. I love this picture of Mitch and I playing at the table one morning. He's so cute!

P.S. Mitch happens to be really good at battleship. He beats me 90% of the time. Somehow he is always able to find my ships. Any advice? I really need help with my strategy.

Our First Thanksgiving...well not exactly

This is actually our second Thanksgiving together but last year we ordered Chinese take-out so I don't think it really counts. This year we decided to be more traditional and cook our own turkey. I'll be honest it was a lot easier than I expected (probably because Mitch did most of the work, but still).
Mitch is a fabulous chef: the turkey was moist, the gravy was just right, and the mashed potatoes were perfect (nice and buttery).
We only had one problem, I accidently thawed the frozen Sarah Lee Pumpkin pie we bought and then flipped it over and spilled out all the pie (notice why Mitch did all the cooking :o) Luckily we were able to make it to Macy's before they closed and by and pre-made one. It was delicious.

What gets me through the cold weather...

There's so many good hot chocolates out there but this is my new official favorite: Chocolate Cinnamon. The nice thing about this flavor is that you don't even have to buy the fancy stuff. You can just add a little cinnamon to you're plain hot chocolate. I definitely recommend it.
In general I just love Christmas drinks. I can drink hot cider or wassail all day.
Do any of you have any great recipes for homemade wassail? I made some last year but it was super sour. I would love any tips.

My Inner European...

I suppose I am a Peterson now?!?!

Your Inner European is Swedish!

Relaxed and peaceful. You like to kick back and enjoy life.

Who's Your Inner European?

Best Prank Ever...

Honestly, you've got to see this! Go to http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4183967147021677751
Or just go to google.com and type in "Best Prank Ever" and the video will come up. It's hilarious.

Freecycle...

Most cities across the nation have implemented some sort of method in order to promote recycling. I'm a big fan but there is so much more to recycling then just old soda pop cans and peanut butter jars.

While browsing MSNBC I came across an article listing "7 items you didn't know you could recycle."
These items include: 1. Athletic Shoes 2. "Techno-Trash"-VHS tapes, game cartridges, digital cameras, MP3 players, cords, cables, cassettes — not to mention bigger items like VCRs and computer monitors. 3. Computers 4. Matresses 5. Handheld devices-old cell phones, pagers and PDAs 6. Dry-cleaning hangers and plastic 7. Soiled glass and plastic.

The great thing about most of these objects is that you can bring them to many local stores. Drop your handheld devices off at any Staples store. Dell will recycle any Dell product for free, and if you buy a new Dell, they’ll recycle any other brand of computer for free. Hewlett-Packard, Gateway, Apple and Toshiba also have recycling programs — check their Web sites for details.

Lastly, everything else you can give away for free. Think how many people could benefit from the items thrown away daily just because we're sick of them or because we bought something better newer. If it's still usable, donate it on Craigslist (post the item for free) or go to The Freecycle Network and share your items with the world.
I love their mission statement:
"Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community."
Can't go wrong there!

Welcome November...

Fall is my favorite. For all the obvious reasons: the leaves are changing, the weather is crisp, Thanksgiving break, etc.
Here's are all the reason's I'm looking forward to November this year:
-Mitch's Birthday- Mitch is one of those guys that is really difficult to shop for because he never really wants anything (and if he does, he'd rather be the one to get it so it's exactly what he wants). This is nice for our budget but difficult when it comes to gifts and holidays. This year, Mitch picked out his own birthday gifts, bought them a month early and now all I have to do is wrap them. I still may come up with a couple little surprises for him but I'm really excited to be getting him exactly what he wants this year.
-Two delicious, untraditional Thanksgiving dinner's- one with my great friend Lauren at Tucano's (can't go wrong there) and another with Mitch, probably Chinese take-out. Although this won't be a permanent alternative to Thanksgiving, I really enjoy just spending the day with Mitch, not worrying about cooking, and having delicious Asian cuisine.
-Getting a real paycheck- Atlas hasn't paid me since Sept. so now that I've started my new job, my first pay day is November 2nd. A great way to start the new month-with money!
-3 days off school- Even though I still have to work I love it when Mitch doesn't have to go to class. He gets to sleep in, relax, and do whatever he wants. He deserves the break.

This is going to be a great month! I hope you all enjoy it as well. Christmas isn't too far away either so this is a good month to start getting prepared and make some purchases in advance. Not to mention, V for Vendetta is in my top 25 favorite movies, "Remember, remember the 5th of November."

Halloween's too scary...

Today's Halloween and I've decided that there's a lot of things about this holiday that are just a little too scary for me. I've always been easily spooked but it seems like costumes and decorations are getting gorier and more disturbing these days. Too many costumes involve fake blood being streamed down cheeks and chins, or ugly stitches and bruises. I know this is cool to a lot of young boys but I think I'm just too much of a girl for all this gruesomeness. Not to mention all the horribly scary movies out right now. Nonetheless, I hope you all have a wonderful, terror-free Halloween.

"After Clouds, Sun"...

As I was perusing a friend of a friend's blog I came across this picture. I've always been an art lover and get really excited when I find paintings or other works of art that move me or inspire subtle but sweet feelings inside. This is one of those paintings. I love pictures that somehow edify us in a way nothing else could.

"Sometimes the Spirit Touches Us Through Our Weaknesses" by James C. Christensen

"In this picture, the hunchback is an Everyman; his hump is indicative of the burdens we all bear. He sits on a box that says literally, in Latin, "after clouds, sun." That's supposed to remind people to find the silver lining.
"I think that we often grow through adversity. No one wants trials and ordeals, and yet, having passed through the darkness, we often experience great spiritual illumination and feel the most connected with our Maker." -- James Christensen

A New Start...

I've finally found a new job! This was my first week with the John Kuchinski Agency in Pleasant Grove, Utah (gotta love his last name- it's Russian/Polish if you're curious).
The works not very interesting but I really enjoy the people I work with and it has a really laid back atmosphere. Plus I get to use my insurance agent's license (it's nicely framed above my desk) so I don't feel like taking that stupid test was too much of a waste of time.
The only bad news is that Atlas still hasn't paid me since Sept. 25th (which is a big deal considering I worked all the way up until Oct. 19th). But I'm trying not to freak out too much.
This job is a really nice change and all in all I actually glad I had such an easy excuse to leave my last job, the fit just wasn't so good for me there.
So. . . if any of you would like a car or home quote just let me know, we'd love to have you business :o)

I'm usually not into online surveys like what color are you, or what animal are you, but this one's actually kinda fun. It's only a few questions so it doesn't take that long either. Supposedly I belong in Rome, I don't know how much I agree but my dad did serve his mission in Rome so I remember always thinking I was Italian when I was little.

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart
Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome
Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand
And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

Want to find out what city you belong in?

All the reasons I miss Kansas...

I know Kansas doesn't sound like that cool of a place but I just can't help loving it so much. Not to mention my whole families there including a new niece that I'm quite obsessed with. These are a few little the things (other then my family of course) that I miss most of all:
I love the open sky and flat land. A lot of people can't understand that but the truth is I really love it. I love how open it is and being able to see the sun rise and set on the horizon line.




The food. Jose Peppers has the best steak taco in North America. Mr. Goodcents is like Subway except a million times better. And Jack Stack is just amazing.










Street names. Utah just doesn't cut it with all of the numbers. The ones shown on the left include Mur-Len and Blackbob Rd.
Honestly, who comes up with these?
Some of my other odd favorites include Pflumn, Strangline and Quivira.





Even though I'm terribly afraid of tornadoes, I still love a good storm. Especially seeing the sky turn black in half the sky while the other is still sun and blue sky. This is a classic picture of a Kansas wall cloud. Spooky but incredible. I also really miss the warm rains, something non-existent in Utah.



Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be in Utah for the time being (I mean what would Mitch and I do without the dollar theatre) but there's some things Utah just doesn't have.

Our Poor Malibu...

So for the second time in less than a week our car hasn't started. Of course the first time we had it towed to the shop and when the technicians finally had a chance to look at it, it started right up. That was frustrating enough. They told us that they couldn't locate the problem if the problem wasn't happening so after paying the tow fee we took it home, hoping there would be no more problems, at least not for a few more months. Sadly today it happened all over again. Luckily, the technician was willing to come to our house to look at it so we didn't have to have it towed again (Honest-1 Auto has been great, cheesy name I know, but excellent service so far). He looked at it for about 45 minutes and was able to determine all the things that weren't the problem but as soon as he thought he figured it out and was running the final test it started right up. Now usually I always want my car to start but not today. So once again we're carless, asking for rides, and feeling like we're in junior high all over again. They're keeping it overnight to see if they can get it NOT to start in order to find the problem. So for once keep your fingers crossed that our car won't start tomorrow.

Tagged...

My friend Sarah's little girl (the most darling 16 month old, Madison) tagged me and the list actually was pretty fun to go through. Enjoy:

A- Attached or single: attached, anyone who's seen Mitch and I together knows I can't get enough of him.

B- Best Friend: Mitch (duh), Lauren, Miriam, Sarah W., Anna, Courtney...

C- Cake or Pie: definitely cake, preferrably chocolate.

D- Day of choice: Saturday- no work and Mitch get's to take a break from his homework.

E- Essential Item: chapstick! I have hiding places all over our apartment for it just so I never run out or have to go too far to find some. It's sad.

F- Favorite Color: green, usually olive-ish.

G- Gummy Bears or Worms: neither, they hurt my teeth.

H- Hometown: Olathe, Kansas. Although I've been in Provo for a few years now and Mitch and I definitely call it home.

Indulgence(s): ice cream. I could be stuffed and still make room for ice cream, always.

J- January or July: July, I love the heat.

K- Kids? not yet, although I'm starting to feel the mommy inside me really coming out lately, every time I see a pregnant woman or a baby I just wish it was me.

L: Life is Incomplete Without: my family, Mitch, the Dokos', the Peterson's, the Kehr's, I couldn't live without any of them.

M- Marriage Date: 06-09-06

N- Number of Siblings: 3 (an older sister and two younger brothers).

O- Oranges or Apples: oranges, except I hate peeling them.

P- Phobias or Fears: spiders, I'm a wuss.

Q- Quote(s): "Hot fudge sundaaaeeeeee....."

R- Reason To Smile: I've never been happier in my life.

S- Season: fall, I love cardigan weather and seeing the leaves change.

T- Tag Three: Lauren, Melody, Liz ... I mean, if you want.

U- Unknown Fact About Me: I've never had stitches, I know that's sort of dumb but I'm proud of it.

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I'm a big meat eater! Steak, pork, chicken... I love it all.

W- Worst Habit: lately I'm super forgetful, it doesn't matter what it is, if I don't write it down, it's like it never happened.

X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: my toe was x-rayed once, it was broken.

Y- Your Favorite Food: baked potatoes.

Z- Zodiac: I'm definitely a Leo.

My favorite face...

There are a million reasons why I love Mitch, but one of my favorites is his face.
Mitch makes the funniest, most random faces I have ever seen. No matter what
the occasion, he is always ready for a goofy grin, blank stare, or whatever else
comes to his mind. The best part is, these aren't faces that just come out when
we're taking pictures, this is every day. I couldn't live without it! Mitch knows
me so well and always knows how to make me laugh. Even when I don't feel like
it, he can always cheer me up and make me smile, even if its with one of these
goofy faces.

A short stay with the Peterson's...

Last week Mitch and I were able to get a ride with a friend up to Everett for the last few days of the week and spend a little time with the family. We had a terrific time and as always it was hard to leave. I'm especially glad that we were able to see Russ one last time before he leaves for Guatemala. For the short time we we're there we did tons of stuff but unfortunately I forgot to take out my camera (luckily Ann did so hopefully I'll be able to post some of those soon), we went to Whidbey Island, the Seattle Aquarium, had a tri-birthday bbq for Uncle Dave, Russ and I, play the Wii (a lot!) and just spent time together and visiting grandma and grandpa.
On the way home Mitch and I were also able to stop off at the Seattle Temple (our first trip back since our wedding day). It was Sunday so we weren't able to go in but it was great just walking around and seeing the beautiful flowers and being so thankful we found eachother and we're able to be married in such an amazing place!

Visiting Kansas...and great friends!

Although Amelia was the main excitement at home, I also was really happy to see a couple of my childhood friends. Now these aren't just your average live down the street and hang out after school sometimes friends, these are honestly some of the two greatest friends I've ever had in my life! I have known Anna and Courtney since elementary school and we've been through a lot together. I'm glad that even after so long and such distances between us, we've all managed to stay in touch and continue our friendships. I've laughed my hardest when I've been with the two of them and hopefully someday we'll all live close enough again that we go back to the old times.

Absolutely Adorable Amelia...

As you can see, Amelia's probably the most adorable little girl that has ever lived! I'm not kidding. She is so precious. Her eyelashes are about an inch long and she has the cutest little mouth and her hair is just unreal. Visiting Kansas was amazing and I'm happy to say that I spent most of my time with her. You can tell that she has a great life because she is just happy as can be. She's giggled a couple times for Natalie and she gave me a lot of great smiles. I can't wait until Christmas to see her again. I know by then she'll have changed so much, I'm so glad I got to see her now.